 Fighting human trafficking and
the exploitation of children and women
is a major challenge. There are no
easy answers and no quick fix. But through generous funding by the
Governments of the UK, Japan, and
others, the ILO-IPEC Mekong Sub-Regional
Project to Combat Trafficking in Children
and Women (Phase II) is making a difference.
Few policy makers in the Greater Mekong
Sub-Region doubt the seriousness of
the situation. Indeed, some are now
implementing and replicating the methods
introduced by ILO-IPEC TICW. In 2004,
in China alone, the project expanded
from one province (Yunnan) to six
and in Lao PDR, TICW has grown from
three provinces to five.
Slowly but surely, Governments, Employers,
Workers groups and civil society,
assisted by TICW and other agencies,
are winning the fight to prevent children
and women falling into the hands of
human traffickers. In 2005, representatives
of all five Governments along with
participants from Workers' and Employers'
organizations from each of the five
gathered in Bangkok to map out a way
to work together to fight trafficking.
This sub-regional advisory group -
or SURAC - pledged to build on this
momentum to ensure that fighting trafficking
for labour exploitation would become
a priority among their constituents.
Recognizing the problem was the first
step. Identifying effective countermeasures
was the second. Helping Governments,
Employers' and Workers' groups and
civil society carry on the fight and
land the decisive blow is next.
|
